Peripheral arterial disease

Disease class: Peripheral vascular diseases

This is the narrowing of the blood vessels in the peripheries, usually the legs.
This is usually mediated by the process of atherosclerosis. 
Blood flow is restricted, causing pain in the affected area.
The symptoms usually worsen gradually and irreversibly, over a long time period.

Risk factors

• Chronic tobacco smoke exposure 
• Hyperlipidaemia
• Diabetes mellitus
• Advanced age 

 

Symptoms

• Intermittent claudication
• Muscle weakness 
• Muscle wasting
• Numbness
• Hair loss in the affected site
• Erectile dysfunction
• Arterial ulceration

 

Complications

• Critical limb ischaemia
• Digital amputation
• Limb amputation

 

Management  

• Promote smoking cessation
• Statin therapy 

• Angioplasty
• Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA)
• Stenting
• Endarterectomy
• Atherectomy 
• Vascular bypass
• Femoral popliteral bypass surgery